Needle-beam for bridges



- (No Model.)

E. E. RUNYON. NEEDLE BEAM FOR BRIDGES.

No. 400,874. Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

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N PETERS, PholoLiibogl-zphur. Wauhinglom DC,

Y UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDI/VIN ELIJAH RUNYON, OF MOUNTAIN SPRING, TEXAS.

NEEDLE-BEAM FOR BRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,874, dated April 2, 1889. 1

Application filed November 22, 1888. Serial No. 291,525. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN ELIJAH RUNYoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Spring, in the county of Cooke and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Beams for Bridges; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to needle-beams for bridges; and its objects are, first, to provide them with appliances whereby to maintain wire cables in proper position and conduct them between the termini of the bridge; sec 0nd, to provide for interweaving the strands of the cable during the progress of the construction; third, to adapt the parts to coact so that they will II] aintain the cables permanently in their pristine condition; fourth, to provide such correlation of the parts that they shall uniformly conduce to invariable results, and, fifth, to attain these ends with structural simplicity and economy. I accomplish these aims by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of a section of bridge constructed according to the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the needle-beams. Fig. 3 shows one of the terminal caps that keep the cable-supports in an inflexible position. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a perforated annular casting that encircles the needle-beam near the terminal cap. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the cable-supports, and Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the annular casting shown in Fig. 5.

The same designations indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In cable bridges it is desirable to prevent shifting of the cables under stress of wind or because of contraction and expansion. It is important also to construct the needle-beams of as light a structure as is consistent with the strain to which they are subjected. To effect both ends economically is the aim of my invention.

The needle-beams A, when about to be lo cated in proper position, are provided with three central supports for the cables G, consisting of the two pieces D E. The former has a groove, d, is hollowed semi-circumferentially, and has flanges D. The latter has a groove, E, at right angles to the groove d, and is similarly hollowed and flanged to encircle the beam, the whole being secured by bolts 6. The cable H is passed through the grooves d and, secured at each end by the caps Bin the groove 17', that is made in the projection B. The cap 13 also confines in place the annular casting 0, through whose groove 0 the cable G passes. This casting is so constructed that the end B of the cap B rests in the recess of larger diameter, and the end B thereof rests in the recess of smaller diameter, thus making the castingand cap flush. The cable F passes in the groove 9 of the cap B. As the wires constituting the cables F G G are placed in position they are twisted to form cables, sufficient tension being secured from the termini to prevent uneven interweaving. The needle-beams are usually made of gas-piping, Whose tubular structure combines lightness with durability.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim is l. The combination, with the needle-beams A, of the castings O, the caps B, the supports E and D, and the cables, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the needle-beams A, of the supports E and D, the caps B, and the cables G and H, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN ELIJAI-l RUNYON.

Witnesses:

JOHN HATOHER, E. A. VINCENT. 

